TNAG-1504-FCO40-2062-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 13

CONFIDENTIAL

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(E)

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LEE, THE LEADERS OF THE LEGCO PANEL GROUPS, VISITED LONDON WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FROM

9-12 SEPTEMBER. THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY 10 DOWNING

STREET GIVES THE ESSENCE OF THE DISCUSSIONS HELD WITH THE

PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MINISTERS ON DAYA BAY:

CAN SAY (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) IN CONFIDENCE THAT

MINISTERS TOLD EXCO THAT, ON THE BASIS OF OUR CONTACTS

WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THE

CHINESE GOVERNMENT ARE APPROACHING THE QUESTION OF SAFETY

WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS. THEY EXPRESSED THE

CONFIDENCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT EVERY EFFORT

WOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION

AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANT WOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO THE

HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS:

WE HOPE THAT THIS IMPORTANT ASSURANCE FROM MINISTERS WILL

HAVE A HELPFUL IMPACT ON OPINION IN HONG KONG, AS THE

PUBLICATION OF THE LEGCO REPORT HAS ALREADY DONE. THE

FORTHCOMING VISIT TO PEKING REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT

OPPORTUNITY FOR CHINA TO REINFORCE THIS BY DEMONSTRATING

TO HONG KONG PEOPLE BOTH ITS ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY

ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, AND ITS RESPONSIVENESS TO THEIR

CONCERNS. VERY MUCH HOPE FULL ADVANTAGE WILL BE TAKEN OF

THIS OPPORTUNITY, SO AS TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE

CONDITIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

HOWE

OCMIAN 2024

GUANGDONG

[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]

LIMITED

HKD

FED

NED

TRED

PUSD(MR CROWLEY) WED

P8

PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR DAUNT

MR WILSON MR SLATER

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR

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CONFIDENTIAL